Lister



June 19, 1928. V 1,674,019 C. W. MICHAEL LISTER Filed March 50. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jays/Z7571 W June 19, 1928. I 1,674,019

C. W. MICHAEL June 19, 19 28.

C. W. MICHAEL LISTER Filed March 50, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June- 19, 1928.

C. W. MICHAEL LISTER Filed March 30, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 19, 1928. V y p 1,674,019

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLEMENT W. MICHAEL, F RACINE, WISGONSIN,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO J. I. CASE PLOW WORKS, INC., A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

LISTER.

Application filed March 30, 1922. Serial No. 547,996.

My invention relates more particularly follow in the tracks or paths smoothed by to multiple listers, and especially to listers the tractor wheels both in front and backof the class in which three bottoms or shares listing. Moreover, this location of the are mounted abreast upon a single frame. Wheels is a material improvement over put- Listers of this character are commonly emting them at the extreme ends of the ma- 55 ployed in connection with mechanical tracchine as heretofore, because it materially tors and comprise, in addition to the frame narrows the overall width of the latter and bottoms carried thereby, ground wheels without affecting its efficiency. by which the depth of penetration of the A further improvement constituting a bottoms is regulated and a tongue by which part of the present invention relates to the 00 the apparatus is secured to the tractor by power-lift. In prior art devices of the which it is drawn. Commonly a caster is kind, where a power-lift is employed it has also employed to support the forward end beenthe practice to furnish the power from of the machine. It is important in maone of the ground wheels for lifting the enchines of this character that the depth of tire machine. This put a great strain on the penetration of the bottoms be substantially wheel employed for the purpose and, espeuniform and commonly means are provided cially when the wheel was unprovided with for regulating or adjusting the height of cleats or the like for increasing traction, the bottoms relatively to the ground wheels often resulting in the wheel slipping with- 20 for the purpose of adjusting the depth to out raising the frame. In the present imwhich the bottoms penetrate. Prior to my provement the construction is such that the invention, however, the ground wheelshavc respective ends of the machine may be lifted been located considerably in advance of'the independently ofeach other, the power for bottoms, with the result that any slight tiltlifting each end being furnisl'ied from the 25 ing of the apparatus causes un-uniform corresponding ground wheel. Other feapenetration and, moreover, in working untures and advantages of my invention will even ground the ground wheels may reach appear from the following description. a raised portion of the ground in the nature lVhile I have shown and described a preof a small hill or ridge while the shares or ferred embodiment of my invention in this 30 bottoms are in a hollow, or vice versa, in this specification, it is to be understood that the manner causing un-uniform penetration and specific disclosure is for the purpose of exirregular work by the machine. It is a feaemplification only and that the scope of the ture of my improved apparatus that the invention is defined in the following claims ground wheels are located approximately in in which I have endeavored to distinguish the same transverse line as the tips of the it from the prior art so far as known to me shares or bottoms so that the wheels and botwithout, however, relinquishing or abandontoms reach elevations or depressions at the ing any portionor feature thereof. same time or substantially so, and thus the Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a bottoms always penetrate to substantially top plan view of a lister embodying my in- 40 the same depth. Furthermore, in my imvent-ion: Fig. 2, aside elevation thereof with proved lister I have located the two wheels the parts in the positions which they occupy on opposite sides of the central bottom and when the machine is operating; Fig. 3, a substantially equally spaced from the same similar view of the machine with the botand the bottoms on opposite sides, thereof, toms raised into inoperative position and respectively, whereby in back-listing the Fig. 4, a front view of a machine embodywheels follow the bottoms of the furrows ing my invention partly broken away and and thus are readily guided upon relatively partly in vertical section. smooth and even tracks. Furthermore, the In the drawings each part is identified by location of the Wheels above specified spaces the same reference character wherever it 50 them a suitable distance apart so that they occurs in the several views. The frame of the machine comprises a main or rear beam 5 and a lighter transverse front beam (3, said beams being substantially connected by the plow beams T. The frame also comprises a central pair of longitudinal members 8, 8 and an outside pair of brace members 9, 9 all secured to the transverse beams or members and brought together at their forward ends where they are bolted, as at 10, to a hitch iron ,11. It will be observed that the central pair of longitudinal members spread toward their rear ends and are secured to a plate l? which is bolted to the center of the rear beam. The outside brace members 9 toward their rear ends and between the transverse beams extend longitudinally of the machine but are bent inward at the forward ends of such longitudinal portions and then again longitudinally of the machine at their forward ends, where they are bolted together as above described. The rear ends of the brace members are fastened to the rear beam.

End plates 12, 12 are bolted to the respective extremities of the rear beam, beneath the same, and extend forwardly where they form supports for brackets 13 in which the shaft let of the wheel carryingarms 15 are journaled. The construction of these arms will be presently described. Furthermore, the bracket plates 13, of which there are two to each end plate, are bolted to opposite sides of the respective outside plow beams 7 wherebythe latter are. firmly secured to the main transverse beam near their rear ends and at points directly above the respective plow bottoms. The forward ends of the plow beams are fitted on opposite sides with straps 16. 1G bolted thereto, the forward ends of the straps being, bolted to the depending web of the front transverse member. A brace 17 between the forward end of the plow beam and said transverse member further stitl'ens the construction. The mounting of the central plow beam is substantially similar and need not, therefore, be specifically described,

A tension rod 18 is adjustably secured at its ends in brackets 19, 19 on the forward transverse member and extends over the longitudinal members 8, 8 and brace members 9. 9. A cutter disc 20, is provided for each bottom, being journaled in a fork 21 which is in turn journaled on a substantially vertical shaft 22 secured in a socket 23 by means of a set screw 24. The hub 25 of fork 21 is slit at 26 and a collar 27 embraced within the recess is secured to the shaft 22 by set screw 28 and prevents movement of the fork longitudinally of the shaft.

As'earlier stated, the frame is supported upon a pair of ground wheels 29, 29 the treads of which engage the ground over which the device is movmg in approximately the same transverse plane in which the tips of the plow bottoms are arranged, and they are sufiieiently close, respectively, to the outside plow bottoms as to control the depth of penetration thereof in the soil. They are arranged rcspectively between the adjacent outside bottoms and the intermediate bottom and so spaced apart as to track with the tractor with which they are to he need. As is common in devices of this character, these wheels have an upper position with respect to the frame wl'iich they occupy when the device is in operation, permitting the bottoms to penetrate the soil to the required depth, and a relatively lower position which they occupy when the device is being moved from place to place with the bottoms out of contact with the ground. As heretofore stated, in my improved construction the wheels are independently movable from the one position to the other. As the means for mounting the wheels and for moving them from the one position to the other are identical with respect to each wheel. the description of one mechanism will sullice for both.

Each ground wheel is journaled at the end of an arm carried by a shaft l-l, to which reference has been made, and means are provided for swinging the arm through a short are and locking it in the upper and in the lower position, the means being operated from the wheel and under the control of the operator. The oscillating arm comprises a casting 30, a lateral extension 31 of shaft 1-1, the end of which is secured within a socket in said casting, and a brace rod #32 one end of which tits in a second socket in the casting and the other end in a socket formed on a collar 33 secured to the body of slia fl I l. The casting comprises a sleeve ill in which is journaled shaft 355 on the inner end of which the wheel 29 is journaled for independent rolation. A clutch 86 of known construction adapted to lock the wheel to the shaft 35 when it is desired to either raise or lower the wheel with respect to the frame for a semi-rotation. The outer end of the shaft is cranked at 237 and provided at its end with a bearing 38. and the construction and arrangement of the clutch is such that if the crank arm 37 is in the lower position shown in Fig. 2 and the clutch is thrown into engagement by the operator the crank arm, by semi-1evolution of the shaft, is brought to the upper position shown in Fig. The next engagement of the clutch causes a further semi-revolution which returns the arm to the position shown in Fig. 2. After each semi-rcvolution the clutch is automatically disengaged. A short sleeve 10 surrounds the bearing 38 and receives the eye all of a rod -12, the upper end of which is bent at right angles to the body of the rod and extends through either of two holes 43 in an arm 44 secured to shaft 4:5, The construction is such that the till arm tt is normally locked in the position shown with reference to the frame of the device and, therefore, the semi-revolution of shaft 35 raises or lowers the frame with respect to the wheel, as the case may be. Shaft which, as heretofore described, carries arm 44 is j ournaled in brackets 47, 48 secured respectively to the adjacent plow beam and to the adjacent brace 9 and is formed on its inner end with an upwardly turned arm 50 to which is bolted hand lever 51. A quadrant rack 52 is secured to brace 9 adjacent the hand lever and the latter is provided with a finger pawl 53, which may be of usual construction operated from the handle and spring pressed into engagement with the rack. Manifestly by adjusting the handle with respect to the rack and locking it in adjusted position, the position of the wheels with respect to the frame may be regulated.

The clutch 36 may be of any of the known forms of clutch used in agricultural implements for a similar purpose which when tripped by the operator engage for a half revolution. Ihave shown a well known type for the purpose of illustrating my in vcntion. The tripping arm as shown at and 57, is the wire or cord for operating the same from the operators position which is preferably at the rear of the tractor.

In order, to a greater or less extent, to counterbalance the weight of the frame and its attached parts, I may provide shaft let with an arm 58 connected by spring 59 with a stationary part of the frame.

The operation will be apparent from the foregoing description. The apparatus is attached to the rear of a tractor and the operating cords or wires for the clutches are secured at their forward ends to the tractor in such position that they may be conveniently reached by the operator. If the frame is in the raised position with the bottoms out of contact with the ground and the operator wants to lower them into working position, he gives the wires or cords a jerk which engages the clutches for a half revo lution lowering the crank arms 37 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2; or if the frame is in the lowered, ground-working position a similar manipu lation of the cords or wires engages the clutches and the shafts are given a half revolution to bring them to the upper position shown in Fig. 3. Each mechanism for raising and lowering one of the wheels is independently operated by power from the wheel with which it is associated, and thus the effort required to raise the frame is divided between the two wheels. Furthen more, there is no shifting or other moving parts extending across the frame as where one of the wheels operates to raise and lower the entire frame. As heretofore observed,

the ground wheels are so placed longitudinally'of the frame as to be in substantial transverse alignment with the plow bottoms so that theyencounter any elevations or depressions in the surface at substantially the same time as the bottoms, and thus the latter always operate at the uniform depth to which the adjustment is set. The wheels being between the bottoms instead of at the ends of the frame follow more closely the depressions and elevation encountered by the bottoms and therefore maintain the penetration more uniform. This position with respect to the outside bottoms also enables the ground wheels to be aligned with the traction wheels of the. tractor, which therefore prepare a relatively smooth path for the lister wheels. Furthermore, the ground wheels being substantially equidistant from the center bottom and the respective outer bottoms in back-listing roll upon the comparatively smooth bottoms of the furrows previously formed.

I claim:

1. In a lister, three plows mounted in a transverse row, a pair of transverse beams each rigidly connected to the beams of said plows to form a frame, a pair of ground wheels located respectively on opposite sides of the center plow and each substantially midway between the same and-the adjacent outer plow. the points of the plow bottoms and the wheel journals being substantially in the same transverse vertical plane, and means for vertically adjusting the wheels with respect to said frame.

2. In an agricultural implement of the class described, the combination of three lister plows substantially in transverse alignment, a pair of transverse beams each rigidly connected to the beams of said plows to form a frame. brace members connecting said transverse beams adjacent the plow beams. a pair of ground wheels arranged respectively on opposite sides of the central plow and between the outer plows. crank arms carrying said ground wheels and journaled in support-s on said brace members and plow beams, and means to adjust said crank arms about their journals, the centers of the wheels being located approximately in the same vertical plane as the points of the plows.

3. In an agricultural implement of the class described, three lister bottoms arranged in a transverse row, a pair of ground wheels arranged respectively on opposite sides of the center bottom andsubstantially midway between the frame and the adjacent side bottom. the bottoms and wheels being approximately in the same vertical transverse plane, a frame on which said bottoms and wheels are mounted, comprising a pair of transverse beams one arranged behind and the other in advance of said bottoms and lUU and forward portions inclined towards each other and bolted together at their forward ends and arms pivoted at one end to the respective braces and carrying the respective l0 ground Wheels at their other ends and means for adwstmg the arms.

CLEMENT \V. MICl-IAEL. 

